What is Depression?

Depression leaves a person feeling sad, discouraged, unmotivated and worthless. Whereas anxiety is characterised by excessive worrying, fear, panic and self doubt that is extreme for the situation.

Depression may lead to a general difficulty enjoying life. It may also cause other effects such as a lack of concentration and a lessening of your ability to remember facts and details. It can affect a sufferer’s ability to work, maintain healthy relationships with others and even perform simple day to day tasks.

Longer term, if left untreated, depression can affect the body as well as the mind. It can lead to changes in appetite and weight gain or loss, negative changes to sleeping patterns, ongoing fatigue and a lack of motivation to take proper exercise, pain, headaches and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts.

What is the difference between depression and anxiety?

While it is not unusual for someone to experience both anxiety and depression at the same time, they are two distinct illnesses.

While depression leads to a person feeling sadness, discouragement, lack of motivation and poor self-worth, anxiety is often characterised by feelings of panic and fear in situations others may not experience such feelings and often constant nagging feelings of worry and doubt.

Symptoms of depression

Behaviour

Not going out/retreating from social life Inability to concentrate Withdrawing from friends and family Relying on alcohol or drugs

Feelings

Overwhelmed Miserable Irritable Disappointed

Thoughts

‘I’m a failure’ ‘It is all my fault’ ‘I’m worthless’ ‘People would be better off without me’

Physical

Tired and run down Sleep problems Loss of appetite or weight gain Headaches and muscle pains

How can I help you with your depression?

If you feel you may be suffering from a mental health issue such as anxiety, depression, stress, bi-polar disorder or any other mental health challenge, it is important to seek help quickly to avoid it taking hold and becoming an ingrained part of your life.

A visit to Living Consciously means connecting you with a distinguished mental health practitioner who is committed to assisting you to get onto the road to recovery and start enjoying your life again.

Don’t suffer in silence. Reach out and take advantage of my free 15 minute consultations to get the support you need.

My Step-by-Step process

In our initial session I will deeply listen and attend to your full life story. I’ll ask you about your life passions, the things you feel are challenging your well-being, and your medical history. From here I’ll help you to start healing and feel at peace with yourself. In counselling and psychotherapy sessions, I help you resolve your problems and any past traumas by focusing on a proven 6 step process. counselling and psychotherapy sessions, I help you resolve your problems and any past traumas by focusing on a proven 6 step process.

Step 1: Develop Safety and Trust

We will first work to ensure that you feel safe in your relationship with me. I will do whatever I can to help you feel comfortable and to meet your needs. I will be accepting of you and whatever issues you want to discuss with me. Building a trusting relationship with me will help you feel more safe, secure and confident within yourself and with others.

Step 2: Discover How to Calm and Soothe Yourself

When you have had long-standing problems such as depression, anxiety, and troubled relationships, your emotions are often on high alert and can feel out of control.

In therapy, we will work to help you relax your mind and your body so that you feel calmer and more at peace. This will make it easier to live your life feeling more comfortable and in control

Step 3: Feeling More at Ease in Your Relationships

As you progress in therapy, you will increase your understanding of how your relationships with others have been impacted by the stressful events in your life.

You will develop a stronger sense of yourself in your relationships, set better boundaries, and become clear on what you need and want from them

Step 4: Increasing Self-Awareness

As your self-awareness of your problems and the role trauma has played in your life increase, you will be able to respond to your life and others in a more positive way.

You will no longer feel like a victim to your emotions and behaviors. You will feel good about the choices you make and your approach to life.

Step 5: Helping You Improve Your Mood

As you heal in therapy, you will begin to experience more joy and pleasure. You will unearth your creativity and experience a greater sense of competence and mastery.

Step 6: Integrating Your Learning into

Your Life You will feel stronger in yourself and feel more whole. Problems and distressing events from the past will no longer have a “hold” on you. You will have a sense of being free and alive.

Why Choose Me?

I work with you from a framework of compassion and collaboration to help you solve your problems.

I commit to working with you until you heal. My core philosophy is that there is always hope for you to feel better about your life.

I help you manage strong emotions, as well as change your thinking and behaviors so that your life improves

I will listen to you and accept you, regardless of the problems you bring to therapy.

I support you towards being more loving and caring towards yourself, increasing your self-confidence, having better relationships and feeling good about your life.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main causes of depression?

There are many potential causes of depression. Some can be related back to unfavourable or negative experiences from your past life. Major life events and changes can be a cause of depression, especially negative ones like the death of a loved one or the loss of a job or business. Even everyday challenges and frustrations can be a cause with chemical, genetic and biological reasons all contributing factors.

What does depression look like?

Depression comes in many forms: there is major depression, where the patient feels the symptoms most to all of the time; persistent depression can last for a lengthy period of time before dissipating; and manic depression is marked by periods of mania or hypomania, where you feel very happy, alternating with episodes of deep depression. In addition there is depressive psychosis, perinatal depression, seasonal depression and more.

What should I do if I think I have depression?

If you believe that you or a loved one is struggling with depression it is important to get help. Please reach out and contact me for a 15 minute free consultation and the support you need.